In today’s digest: a miraculous rescue of all 11 people after a seaplane crash off the coast of Seattle; rumors of a possible trade between the Mariners and the Padres before the MLB deadline; and a Seattle loss to the Texas Rangers that further complicates the division race.
Miraculous rescue: a seaplane with 11 people on board crash-lands on a remote island off Seattle
The incident, which occurred on the evening of July 23, 2026, near Sucia Island, is already being called a real miracle. The DHC-3 Otter seaplane, flying from Seattle to Roche Harbor, crashed on a rocky shore of an uninhabited island, but all 11 people on board were rescued. According to information shared by San Juan County authorities, the passengers suffered injuries ranging from bruises and cuts to fractures and traumatic brain injuries. By Friday morning, most of the injured had already been discharged from hospitals, and the condition of one person who had previously been considered critical had improved to satisfactory. The case is especially notable in light of a recent seaplane accident in New York and the 2022 tragedy, when a similar aircraft took the lives of ten people.
As reported by Alaska's News Source, the incident occurred at about 5:20 p.m. local time. The aircraft, piloted by a single pilot and carrying ten passengers, was approaching for landing in the Shalllow Bay area on the south end of Sucia Island. Videos posted on social media captured dramatic moments: the seaplane, flying low over the water, suddenly banked sharply, made a hard landing on the surface with one float first, then lifted briefly into the air and came crashing down onto the coastal rocks. Witnesses who were nearby on boats rushed to help. Dave Eastman, one of the witnesses, said he first feared the plane would hit his boat, but then saw it head toward the island. He said that six or seven vessels immediately sped to the crash site—from aluminum fishing boats to recreational yachts. In the ensuing chaos, passengers managed to get out of the burning fuselage, which had partially submerged and wedged against a large boulder. The U.S. Coast Guard confirmed that it sent an emergency alert to mariners, and many “good Samaritans” responded to the call. A Coast Guard helicopter and a Canadian air-cushion vessel also took part in the rescue operation.
The cause of the crash is still unclear. About three minutes before the crash, according to Flightradar24 data, the plane made a sharp 180-degree turn and headed back toward the island it had just passed. Weather in the area deteriorated at the time of the incident: eyewitnesses mentioned a lightning storm and the start of a downpour. However, linking the crash specifically to weather conditions is still premature. Notably, the crashed DHC-3 Otter—made by Canadian company de Havilland—is the same model that crashed in Puget Sound Bay in 2022, killing 10 people. Back then, an investigation found a failure of a single component of a critical flight-control system, after which federal authorities introduced mandatory checks for all similar aircraft. The current aircraft was operated by Kenmore Air, which describes itself as the largest seaplane operator in the U.S. and has no ties to the company responsible for the previous tragedy. Kenmore Air CEO David Gadgel thanked everyone for the fact that everyone on board survived and promised full cooperation with investigators.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has already begun an investigation. Aviation safety expert John Cox said investigators have a unique set of data at their disposal: a living pilot, numerous eyewitnesses, and video of the crash itself. That makes it possible to hope preliminary reasons can be established quickly. The wreckage has already been recovered and sent on a barge to a location where experts can examine it in detail. A preliminary report is expected in about a month, but final conclusions are likely to be made no sooner than a year from now. The plane departed from Union Lake in Seattle and was headed to the scenic Roche Harbor on San Juan Island—one of the archipelago’s most popular tourist destinations, known for its hotels, marinas, and opportunities to watch for whales. The fact that no one died in the crash, in which the fire destroyed the fuselage almost completely, can truly be considered incredible luck and a result of the rapid actions of eyewitnesses and rescuers.
Secret talks: Jake Peavy reveals details of a possible Mariners-Padres trade
Despite what seems like a lull around the Seattle Mariners ahead of the August 3 MLB deadline, the club is actively negotiating. Two-time Cy Young Award winner Jake Peavy, now an MLB Network analyst, shared insider information on Seattle Sports. According to him, the general managers of the Mariners and the San Diego Padres have already held preliminary discussions. That’s especially interesting given that the two teams have not made trades with each other for a long time—the last one was in 2021—though earlier, in 2020–2021, they pulled off a whole series of notable deals. Back then, Seattle received Andres Munoz, Ty France, Taylor Trammell, and Luis Torrens, as well as Matt Brash, while San Diego received Austin Nola, Austin Adams, and others. Now the situation could repeat, but with a different context.
At the moment, the Mariners, at 51–52, are just half a game behind the AL West division leader, the Texas Rangers—making them potential buyers. The Padres, by contrast, are 15 games back in the NL West and four games behind the last wild-card spot. Peavy described San Diego’s position as “weird,” explaining that the team is teetering on the edge of selling off assets. Among the trade candidates, the analyst named left-handed reliever Adrian Morejon, elite closer Mason Miller, and starting pitcher Michael King. “When it comes to Miller, Morejon, and King, you’re talking to literally every team in the league, because they see them as upgrades,” Peavy said. For the Mariners, strengthening the bullpen would be a logical move, but the competition for these players will be enormous.
It’s worth clarifying that the “deadline” is the cutoff date before which MLB clubs can make trades without additional restrictions. A “bullpen” is the group of pitchers who come in during relief appearances, replacing the starting pitcher, while a “closer” is the specialist who finishes games in tight situations. “A 20-year record in trades” isn’t a joke: Mariners president Jerry Dipoto has made 205 trades since 2015, confirming the management’s inclination to trade. Given that the Padres are run by an equally active A.J. Preller, a possible trade between these two teams could become one of the loudest events of the upcoming deadline. However, Peavy warns: if San Diego truly decides to sell, every team will line up, and Seattle will have to offer something truly valuable to land, for example, Mason Miller—a pitcher who can reach 100 mph (160 km/h) and is regarded as one of the best young closers in the league.
Mariners sink in Texas: Seattle loses a pivotal series opener
Seattle’s season for the Mariners continues to turn into a nightmare. Instead of building momentum at the key moment of the year, the team has suffered its third straight loss—this time to a direct division rival, the Texas Rangers. The game, played in Arlington at Globe Life Field, ended 5–4, and now the Mariners trail the American League West leader by 1.5 games. This defeat isn’t just a statistic—it reflects all the systemic problems of the Seattle team: an inability to capitalize on moments, breakdowns in key at-bats, and growing frustration in the clubhouse. As right fielder Dom Canzone noted, when the team doesn’t get the results it wants, it’s very frustrating—and you can feel it throughout the group.
Although the day before saw the firing of hitting coach Bobby Magallanes, the Mariners’ offense showed glimpses of life on Friday, finishing the game with ten hits. But once again, it wasn’t enough. The team again failed to turn runners on base into runs. The second inning was especially telling: Seattle loaded the bases, but after Weston Wilson tied the game with his single, the team couldn’t deliver the decisive hit. Rangers pitcher Mackenzie Gore forced Randy Arozarena to ground out to first base, leaving the bases loaded. Mariners manager Dan Wilson tried to keep a positive tone, saying the team was creating traffic on the bases—but it was precisely that “traffic” without the finish that became the club’s Achilles’ heel.
The turning point of the game was the start by Seattle’s Bryce Miller. He worked 5.1 innings but allowed a season-high five earned runs. Miller also had no strikeouts—his first time in his career. The main problem was losing control of his splitter, which usually produces a “swing-and-miss.” “All game long the splitter stayed up—it was just sailing. We gave it up. It’s one of those frustrating games,” Miller said. The most painful moment was the home run Jake Burger hit in the fourth inning on a 0–2 pitch—one that, according to Miller, was exactly where he wanted to throw it, but still sailed over the fence. Later, Burger punished another Mariners reliever, Eduardo Bazardo, in the sixth inning with a double play—something that, in Dan Wilson’s view, initially looked like it might be a double out.
The sixth inning sealed it, when the Rangers extended their lead. After a Burger single that was nearly caught by rookie shortstop Colt Emerson, Niko Lopez executed a perfectly run squeeze bunt, bringing in another run. The Mariners had only a weak ninth-inning rally left, but it wasn’t enough. As The Seattle Times writes in its article, “the vibes around this team, apparently, have hit rock bottom.” The loss was the fifth defeat in seven meetings with the Rangers this season, putting not only the fight for first place at risk, but also the team’s psyche heading into the next games. Despite the coach’s talk of a “fight to the end,” there isn’t that spark on the field that would turn 10 hits into decisive runs.
